Parliamentary Procedure

1
Parliamentary Procedure

• Lesson III

2
Motions

• Bring business (Topics) to the assembly in an
  orderly manner.
• Types of motions Main Motions, Subsidiary,
  Privileged, and Incidental
• Motions are ranked or have an order of precedence
  (Privileged-highest, Subsidiary-next highest,
  Main Incidental-no rank)
• Motions begin with the words, I move that

3
Motions

• Motions are short and to the point-no discussion
  or excessive description is needed, this can be
  included in the debate.
• Only one motion can be considered at a time.

4
Ranked Motions

• Main motions Introduces all business
• Subsidiary motions Aid the assembly in treating
  or disposing of a Main motion during debate. (ex
  modify, delay action on, or disposing of it).
• Privileged motions Relate directly to the
  members and the organization, and not to main
  motions or pending business. They deal with
  matters of urgency, that without debate, can
  interrupt everything else.

5
Ranked Motions

• Incidental motion deal with questions of
  procedure and arise out of other motions or items
  of business

6
Main MotionsHas No Rank

• Requires a second. If not received, the motion
  dies.
• Are debatable
• Are amendable
• Require a majority vote
• May be reconsidered
• Cannot interrupt the speaker

7

Reconsider Has No Rank

• Allows a question previously disposed of to come
  again before the assembly as if it had not been
  considered. (only a member from the prevailing or
  winning side can make this motion)
• Requires a second
• Is debatable only if the original motion to be
  reconsidered is debatable
• Not amendable
• Majority vote required
• Cannot be reconsidered or interrupt another
  speaker with the floor

8

Rescind Has No Rank

• Voids a motion previously passed
• Requires a second
• Is debatable and amendable
• Simply majority if prior notice given, if not a
  2/3 vote is required
• Cannot interrupt a speaker who has the floor

9
Subsidiary MotionsLay on the Table

• Delay action on another motion because something
  more important has arisen
• Requires a second
• Is not debatable

• Is not amendable
• Cannot be reconsidered
• Cannot interrupt another speaker
• Majority vote

10
Subsidiary MotionsPrevious Question

• Immediately stop debate on the pending question
  and move to vote.
• Requires a second
• Is not debatable
• Is not amendable

• Passed by a 2/3 vote
• Cannot interrupt another speaker
• State I move the previous question.

11
Subsidiary MotionsPostpone definitely

• Defers action on another motion to a specific
  day, place, and time.
• Requires a second
• Is not debatable
• Is amendable

• 2/3 vote required because it restricts
• May be reconsidered
• Cannot interrupt one who has the floor

12
Subsidiary MotionsCommit or Refer

• Gives a motion more detailed attention or permits
  it to be handled in a smaller group or by a
  committee before the body votes.
• Requires a second
• Is debatable
• Is amendable

• Majority vote required
• May be reconsidered
• Cannot interrupt one who has the floor

13
Subsidiary MotionsAmendments

• To modify or change a pending motion by deleting,
  inserting, or adding.
• Requires a second
• Is debatable if main motion is debatable
• Amendment of the first degree may be amended by
  amendment of the second degree
• Second degree amendments cannot be amended

14
Subsidiary MotionsAmendments Cont

• Related to motion pending
• Majority vote required
• May be reconsidered only until the main motion is
  adopted, otherwise whole main motion may be
  reconsidered
• May not interrupt one who has the floor

15
Subsidiary MotionsPostpone Indefinitely

• Disposes of the question without having to vote
  on it.
• Requires a second
• Is debatable
• Not amendable
• Majority vote required
• Cannot be reconsidered
• Cannot interrupt one who has the floor

16
Privileged MotionsAdjourn

• Terminates the meeting
• I move that we adjourn.
• Requires a second
• Not debatable
• Not amendable
• Majority vote required
• Cannot be reconsidered or interrupt the one who
  has the floor

17
Privileged MotionsRecess

• Requires a second
• Not debatable
• Not amendable
• Majority vote required
• Cannot be reconsidered
• Cannot interrupt the one who has the floor

18
Incidental Motions

• Point of Information wants facts about the
  business at hand (I rise to a point of
  information, and can happen at any time)
• Parliamentary Inquiry requests chairs opinion
• Division of Assembly calls for verification when
  a member doubts the accuracy of a voice vote
• Withdraw a Motion permits a member to remove his
  or her question from consideration even after the
  motion has been restated by the Chair (Mr.
  President, I move that I be allowed to withdraw
  the motion.)
• Point of Order Challenges an error in procedure
  and requires a ruling by the Chair. ( I rise to
  a point of order)